Netflix and Relativity Media deal will bring new movies to Instant streaming faster

This morning, Netflix announced that it has signed an agreement with Relativity Media that will bring new releases to Netflix Instant streaming at the same time as they are released to pay TV services like HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

The first new releases that will be covered in the deal between Relativity and Netflix will be Paramount Pictures' "The Fighter," and Universal Studios' "Skyline," Rogue Pictures' "Season of the Witch" and "Movie 43."

Relativity Media distributes titles from studios such as Universal and Sony, and controls the rights to 14 new movies scheduled for release this year. Currently, the company has distribution rights for 118 movies.

Through the deal between Netflix and Starz, a number of Relativity's pictures are already available for streaming, like Columbia Pictures' "Zombieland," which just arrived on both services last week.

"Our continued goal is to expand the breadth and timeliness of films and TV shows available to stream on Netflix," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. "Historically, the rights to distribute these films are pre-sold to pay TV for as long as nine years after their theatrical release. Through our partnership with Relativity, these films will start to become available to our members just months after their DVD release."